Torpedo shooting game apparatus



Oct. 27, 1942. F. M. NEW

TORPEDO SHOOTING GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l .15. INVENTOR- fkga M NEM Oct. 27, 1942. F. M. NEW

I TORPEDO SHOOTING GAME APPARATUS Filed se i. 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIT COUNTER TARGET I n. W. N m m R m M All Poll

IIII

I A Me V Patented Oct. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TORPEDO SHOOTING GAME APPARATUS Fred M. New, New York, N. Y.

Application September 21, 1940, Serial No. 357,748

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated shooting game apparatus and more particularly to a torpedo-shooting game apparatus.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a projectile or torpedo simulating shooting apparatus of the above nature in which required skill to operate said apparatus approaches very closely to the actual conditions and circumstances attending the torpedoing of a moving target and in which stages of the torpedo course may be visualized by the operator and observers for evidencing the relative movements of a released torpedo and said moving target.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for aiming at a moving target or successive targets in motion, preferably in the form of warships, through a sight or optical device having the form of a periscope.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide electrically operated means for shooting at a moving target while the aforesaid optical device when moved in a position relatively to said target, is temporarily fixed in said position during the shooting or torpedoing action.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for imitating or simulating the movement of a torpedo under the water level as if shot by a torpedo-or U-boat in the direction of a moving ship.

Yet, another object of the present invention resides in the provision of means to indicate various positions of said torpedo during its course against said moving ship or target.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide means for producing a time delay between the actual release of a torpedo and the hit of a torpedo or similar projectile against a target preferably in motion, at which said'periscope device has been directed prior to the torpedo release action.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means to hit said moving target at predetermined positions thereof, said periscope device and the torpedo shooting device preferably connected thereto being turnable into a position relatively to said predetermined target positions.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawings which illustrate a certain form of embodiment thereof. This form is shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that'the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention. a

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail of construction employable in the invention.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of another detail of construction employable in the invention, parts being shown in section and broken away.

Figs. 5, 7 and 8 show fragmentary views of electrical contact means employable in the invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates an electrical part employable in the invention.

Fig. 9 shows a wiring diagram for use in connection with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is disclosed a casing It] supported by four legs II; the top plate l2 of said casing It may be made of translucent material and painted in any desired fashion, preferably indicating sea waves l2a. At one end of easing Hi, there are provided the conventional coin-slide mechanism l3, and a periscope or similar optical device l4, through which extends a torpedo shooting device 21 including steering and releasing mechanisms [5, as will be explained further below. From the opposite end of casing I0 projects upwardly a scoreboard l6 and target housing l'l covered by a glass panel l3.

Periscope device [4 contains angularly disposed mirrors I9, 20 of conventional structure and is provided with a binocular-like arrangement 2| at one end thereof. A tubular or similar member 22 extends substantially horizontally from housing 23 and above said glass panel 12. The free end 24 of tubular member 22 is obliquely cut as indicated by numeral 25 to enlarge the view range of said periscope device, as will be hereafter set forth.

Within housing 23 of periscope device (4, there is pivotally and rotatably mounted as at 2E3 torpedo shooting device 21, which mainly consists of hollow tube 28, steering or control mechanism l5 including release button 29, tube support bar 3!), and clutch 3|. Clutch 3] is encased in housing 23, which contains two solenoids 33, 34 and ratchet wheel 35.

Hollow tube 28 is provided at its upper face with a plurality of elongated torpedo-shaped openings 2%, 28b, 23c, 28d, 28c and carries preferably red light bulbs TL1, TLz, TLs, TM, and TL5 positioned within said tube 23 and below said respective openings (not shown in Fig. 2, but indicated in Fig, 9) for a purpose which will become more apparent during the course of the specification. Tube 28 is supported on circularly-shaped bar 30 and rests thereon preferably by means of a ball bearing 32, the ball 35 of which may roll over said bar 39 and is guidable therealong (Fig.

Clutch or clamp mechanism 3i is arranged in the lower part of housing 2-3 and comprises ratchet wheel (or two complementary ratchet segments) swingable together with tube 23, the latter being fixedly connected to and supported by stem 37 which in turn carries said ratchet wheel 35; and further solenoids 32, 3 5 having each a slidable armature provided with a respective toothed bow end piece 33a, 34a for engagement with said wheel 35. It will be obvious from the above that upon gripping of handles 39 by the operator torpedo-shooting device 2'] may be swung in a semi-circular path, stem 3? being rotatable about bearing 26 whereby ball 36 of ball bearing 32 can roll on bar so to any desired position relatively thereon. On account of rotatable movement of stem 3? ratchet wheel 35 will follow this movement. In order to allow such swingable or rotatable movement about bearing 26, casing I3 is provided with an elongated opening Ml, whereas a similarly shaped slot or cut-out 4| is disposed opposite said opening in the front wall 23a of housing On handle 33 of steering mechanism there is provided press button 29 to establish electrical connections in a wiring system which is about to be described.

At the forward end of hollow tube there is slidably disposed electrical contact piece 2 carried by insulator piece 43. Insulator piece 23 is urged out of tube 23 by means of a spring a l seated on partition 2-5 of tube housing 23 so that contact piece 42 will normally assume its outermost position (Fig. 8). Electric current may be supplied to contact piece 42 by means of a cable 45 from a power line, and according to a wiring diagram, shown in Fig. 9.

The purpose of this game apparatus is to establish electrical contact between the aforesaid contact piece 152 (during the period of time the said contact piece is switched in a circuit described hereinbelow with respect to 9) and one of the targets l to 5 carrying each one or more contact points (not shown) and supported on a belt lfll which is trained over rollers 5212, I 63, The said targets are arranged in spaced apart relation on said belt 59!, the latter being preferably continuously moved in the direction of the arrow (indicated on belt it]! of Fig. 2) by means of a suitable gearing Hit from motor MT.

The operation of the torpedo-shooting game apparatus is as follows:

Upon insertion of a coin (not shown) in coin slide IS the apparatus may be put in operation by inwardly pushing said coin slide according to arrow C. Thereby, motor MT and a time switch (not shown), as well as transformer Tl are connected to the power line.

Targets l to 5 now move together with belt liil and are successively exposed to view in housing or at window l1. The torpedo-shooting device 27 will then be directed by the operator (viewing through the periscope i i) toward one of the targets coming into view at said window I! and with the purpose to hit said target taking into account that lapse of time will be necessary for the release and travel course of a torpedo or similar projectile against said tariret. A hit will be made upon establishment of an electrical connection between contact piece 6 .3 and a contact point (not shown) of said target within a circuit about to be described hereafter,

said hit being indicated by a hit counter HC on score board i6.

As set out above, the "torpedo shooting device 2? will be first swung about stem 37 (in the direction of arrows TB or TA) and is then adjusted on bar 39 relatively to a moving target approaching contact piece 42 of said device 21, sufficient time being allowed to permit the torpedo to its travel course along torpedo tube 28. The operator by pressing the release button 29 for shooting the torpedo establishes the following circuits (Fig. 9):

Release button 29, leads 6!, 62, 63, contact point A of motor switch, contactor 6 lead 65, legs S, S1 of the power line, lead t5, motor brush 56a, motor brush 6% and back through lead 61 to button 29.

Motor M after being thus connected to the power line rotates in the direction of the arrow (indicated in Fig. 9) and since contactor 54 of motor switch MS is mechanically connected to motor M by means of a shaft ltiii, contactor 64 will follow the rotation of motor M, leaves its rest position at A and moves on ring segment contact S te from which latter current will then be further supplied through leads 58, 69 to motor brush 53b (brush 66a being connected through lead 6t directly to leg S1 of the power line).

Motor M performs a single revolution (upon pressing said release button 28) and rotates simultaneously by means of shaft I00 contactors 54 and 55 which are fixed to said shaft. Contactor 55 actuates thereby magnet clamp switch CS, Whereas contactor 54 operates with segment switch SS for successively operating torpedocourse lamps TL1, TL2, TLs, TL4, TL5 and finally contact piece or block 42 for timely electrical connection with a contact point of one of the targets aimed at. Thus, segment switch SS included in the circuit upon actuation of switch or release button 28 forms a means retarding electrical connection with contact piece or block 42.

After reaching the end of segment contact 64a, contactor 64 leaves the latter and thus interrupts current supply to motor M. Contactor 64 will come to rest again upon contact point A of motor switch MS (shown in dotted lines), because due to its inertia shaft liifl will continue to rotate for a moment after disconnection of motor current has been effected.

During the above-mentioned single revolution of motor M contactor 54 which is fixed to motor shaft 1% and connected through leads 52 and to the secondary TS of transformer T1, moves from rest position A to the first segment S1 of segment switch SS establishing thereby a circuit for lamp TL1 through leads ll, 59, 58, 51, 56 back to the secondary TS of transformer T1. Contactor 54 is then moved to segment S2, interrupting the current supply to TL1 and establishing for TLz the following circuit: Secondary TS of transformer T1, leads 58, 52, contactor 54, segment S2, leads i2, TL2, common lead 6!], leads 59, 53, 5?, 56 back to the secondary TS of transformer T1.

t is apparent from above without requiring any further explanation that thus lamp TL1 (through segment S1 and lead 1!), lamp TL;

(through segment S2 and lead 12), lamp TL3 (through segment S3 and lead 13), lamp TL4 (through segment S4 and lead '14), lamp TL5 (through segment S5 and lead 15) will be consecutively switched on and then out again until contactor 54 (during the said motor revolution) comes to lie on segment Se establishing a circuit through leads [6, 46 and contact piece 42 with one selected target I, 2, 3, 4 or 5 which are each electrically connected (f. e. by brush or spring contact, not shown) with lead '10 and hit counter HC and further with common lead 60 and secondary TS of transformer T1 (through leads 59, 58, 51, 56) as set forth above. The time element required to establish this latter circuit is fixed by the torpedo-course lamp arrangement TL1 to TL5, and said circuit will only be established after these lamps have been operated and the target selected for hit reaches and is with its own contact point in alignment with contact block or nose contact 42, thus allowing establishment of electrical connection with the section (leads T0, 60) of target and hit counter circuit explained hereinabove.

Since, as mentioned hereinbefore, contactor 55 of magnet clamp switch CS is also driven by motor shaft Hi0, contactor 55 will move from its rest position A" to segment ring 55a, thus establishing for clamp or clutch mechanism 3| the following circuit: contactor 55, leads 53, 5!, 53, secondary TS, leads 56, ll, solenoids 34 and 33, leads [8, 19 back to segment 55a. During the time contactor 55 moves on segment 55a, clamp solenoids 34 and 33 will be energized whereby armatures 34a and 33a will be urged against ratchet wheel 35 thus holding torpedo shooting device 21 in its aligned position resulting from a swinging movement thereof in either direction of arrows TA, TB along guide bar 33 and about bearing 28 of stem 31.

It will be apparent from above that upon turning and directing torpedo shooting device 21 into a predetermined position relatively to that of a selected target (l, 2, 3, 4, or 5) in motion and upon operation of release button 29, device 21 will remain in said predetermined position by means of actuation of said clamp mechanism 3!, whereas motor M performs its one revolution causing contactor 54 to switch on successively TL1, 'ILz etc. until contact piece 42 is included in the circuit above referred to for (hitting) electrically contacting or missing said selected target.

Fig. 6 shows in greater detail segment switch SS, contactor part 54 being omitted for the sake of clarity. Current to contactor 54 is supplied by means of a contact-ring arrangement 80 of known construction. Segments S1 to S6 are supported on plate 82 from which they are insulated in any known manner. Block A is of similar construction and receives contactor 54 during rest position of the apparatus.

Figs. 7 and 8 show respectively stages of movement of a target part carrying a contact point 8| relatively to nose contact 42 of torpedotube 28.

Fig. 8 indicates contact piece 42 in its outermost position, whereas Fig. 7 illustrates contact piece 42 in its retracted position, a target part sliding along and being just about to engage its contact point or lug 8| with nose contact 42, for a purpose set out hereinabove.

After completion of the single revolution of the motor M contactors 54, 55 and 64 will return to their respective initial positions on A, A and A. While the time switch (not shown) is still put into power line, as above referred to, the game apparatus may be again operated by directing torpedo-shooting device 2! against one of the targets selected for hit and then pressing switch or button 29 to undisplacedly adjust the said device 21 by the clamp mechanism 3| and to release and shoot the torpedo in the same manner and for the same purpose described above.

The above-mentioned time switch is conventional in coin-operated amusement devices of similar type and performs the same function in the present apparatus of terminating operation thereof by switching off motors M and MT after a certain lapse of time. Operation of the machine will again take place upon insertion of another coin.

As it is illustrated in Fig. 1 the course, which the torpedo takes during operation, is viewable in stages through plate l2 and the sea waves 52a provided thereon. Fig. 1 shows the torpedo in its fourth stage or position indicated by lamp T114 within tube 23.

It will be obvious and therefore to be understood that the inventive idea, an example of which is herein disclosed, may be utilized for other game apparatus. However, it is to be stressed that the invention is not to be construed as being confined or limited to the particu lar embodiment and/or means disclosed herein, keeping always in mind that the problem solved by this invention is the electrically shooting against a target by which the time element is taken into account and relied on, which time element is determined by the course of travel or similar distant trajectory of the projectile necessary for reaching and hitting a target aimed at. This target may be either stationary or movable in any desired direction relatively to the shooting device proper.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantages before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principal involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. An electrically operated shooting apparatus of the character described comprising a first electrical circuit including switch means and a first contact means, electro-mechanical means, a second electrical circuit including a second contact means, and electrical retarding means in said first circuit and adapted upon operating said first circuit by said switch means to delay inclusion of said first contact means in said first circuit for electrical connection of said first contact means with said second contact means, said second circuitbeing established upon electrical engagement of both said contact means, said first contact means and said second contact means being movably arranged with respect to each other, said first contact means being finally maintained in position by said electrd-mechanical means upon operation of said first circuit by said switch means.

2. In a game apparatus of the character described, an electric circuit including a current supply source, contact members relatively movable to each other, and electric retarding means for delaying inclusion in said circuit of one of said members, both said members being connectable with one another whereby upon inclusion of said one of said members in said circuit and upon establishment of the connection of both said members the latter are put into said circuit for operation thereof, said electric retarding means including a plurality of swingably arranged lamps and controlling means for said lamps whereby said lamps may be consecutively put in operation before said inclusion of said one of said members takes place.

3. In a game apparatus of the character described, an electric circuit including a current supply, contact members relatively movable to each other in the same plane and direction, and electric retarding means for delaying inclusion in said circuit of one of said members, both said members being connectable with one another whereby upon inclusion of said one of said members in said circuit and upon establishment of the connection of both said members the latter are put into said circuit for operation thereof, said electric retarding means including a plurality of swingably arranged lamps and controlling means for said lamps whereby said lamps may be consecutively put in operation before said inclusion of said one of said members takes place, one of said contact members being coordinated to a shooting device, the other of said contact members being coordinated to a target for said shooting device.

4. In a game apparatus of the character described, an electric circuit including a current supply source, contact members arranged for movement with respect to each other, and elec tric retarding means for delaying inclusion in said circuit of one of said members, both said members being electrically connectable with one another whereby upon inclusion of said one of said members in said circuit and upon establishment of the connection of both said members the latter are put into said circuit for operation thereof, said electric retarding means including a plurality of swingably arranged lamps, connected to a simulated shooting device and controlling means for said lamps whereby said lamp-s may be consecutively put in operation be fore said inclusion of said one of said members takes place, one of said contact members being coordinated to said shooting device, the other of said contact members being coordinated to a target for said shooting device, said lamps indicating the direction and travel stages of a missile toward said target.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising aiming means including a tubular member arranged for swingable movement and provided with a plurality of successive torpedoshapcd cut outs, a plurality of lamps arranged in said member adjacent said cutouts, respectively, an electric contact piece at one end of said member, a target movable in front of and past said electric contact piece and carrying a contact point adapted to register with said contact piece, and control means including circuits and an electric power source, said control means being adapted to close said circuit by successively including said lamps and said contact piece in said circuits, respectively, whereby said contact point of said target when moved in registry with said contact piece will cause signalling of result of said registry.

6. A game apparatus of the character described comprising an aiming device including a movably mounted member and electric retarding means carried by said member, an electric contact piece provided at one end of said member and located in advance of said retarding means, a plurality of targets arranged for movement in front of said contact piece, each target carrying a contact point adapted for engagement with said contact piece, circuits including a power source, control means connecting said circuits with said retarding means and with said electric contact piece successively, and signalling means includable in one of said circuits upon electrical engagement between one of said target contact points and said contact piece when the latter is moved into predetermined position relatively to one of said targets.

7. A game apparatus of the character described comprising an aiming device, at least one target arranged for movement in front of said aiming device, circuit means including a power source and control means for said circuit means, said aiming device being arranged for swinga-ble movement relatively to said movable target, said target and said aiming device having each a contact point for electrical engagement with each other, electric contact delay means connected with said aiming device and adapted to move therewith upon movement of the latter in the direction toward said target, means for maintaining in position said aiming device when moved into said direction toward said target, said contact delay means being adapted to retard transfer of electric current to said electric contact point of said aiming device while said target approaches during its movement said electric contact point of said aiming device, and signalling means for indicating a hit and includable into one of said circuit means upon engagement of saidcontact point of said aiming device with the contact point of said target.

8. In combination with electrically operated shooting apparatus, at least one movably arranged target, a swingably disposed aiming device in front of said target, electrically engageable contact means, respectively provided at said aiming device and at said target, of electrical retarding means, said retarding means being lamp means carried by and movable with said aiming device, and electrical control means including electric circuits, said control means being adapted to put into said circuits, respectively, said lamp means simulating stages of a fired projectile and subsequently said contact means of said aiming device whereby upon electrical engagement of the latter contact means with said target contact means a hit is established.

9. The combination of electrically operable shooting means including a movably arranged target and swingably ,disposed aiming means provided with a trigger switch, with electric retarding means connected to said aiming means arranged for movement therewith, said target and said aiming means having each a contact point connectable to an electric circuit, said contact points being engageable with one another upon adjustment of said aiming means with respect to said target, one of said contact points being includable in said electric circuit upon operation of said trigger switch whereby electric current is caused to pass through said retarding means before said one contact point is cut into said circuit.

FRED M. NEW. 

